Future Regency Gown Project by Aylwen

I ordered some lace online because it was cheap and pretty - when it arrived I realised it would be perfect for a version of this dress that I have loved for a long time. I still can't believe my luck! The picture does not do it justice - it is a lovely aqua embroidery with sprigs all over.

There is a gown in Costume in Detail by Nancy Bradfield that I'll use for information.

 

  

Together with instructions for three-piece sleeves as shown on page 35 of Period Costume for Stage and Screen by Jean Hunnisett.

Using Saris & Shawls to make Regency Garments

Exactly a year later and the summer heat has me thinking about saris again. The paisley shawls that I found for a shawl dress will have to wait for cooler weather, but the silk saris have a lovely handle in this hot weather.

Pinned the sheer silk sari pieces, face together, to the blue lining,
stitched 1cm seam.

Kept the arm hold and waistline seams open.
Turned it through, pressed and then sewed a 1cm casing channel.

Front and back, turned through and pressed.
Being careful to press on the lining side because of the gold trim.

Pinning the two face together so the fashion fabric is a little longer than lining.

Hand sew the fashion fabric together with a very tiny fine backstitch.
When you lay it flat it looks like this.

The most important step is to cut the bodice and sleeves first... then use the rest for the skirt. I flat line the bodice (attach a piece of cotton fabric to each pattern piece and use as one piece) on the straight of grain with cotton and use tiny french seams - do not flat line the skirts. Use a chemise & stays or a boned bodiced petticoat underneath. I use the decoration around the hem and sleeves. Silk saris are best for evening or ball gowns, cotton ones for daywear. Make sure you are getting a full sari of at least 5-6 metres or you will run short of fabric. A shorter amount can be used to make a sleeveless pelisse or overdress. When purchasing a sari online please note that craft silk or art silk are acetates, not silk. Also, it is easier if you are a short person - otherwise be prepared to drape until it meets your satisfaction.

The next two pictures are from a previous post showing seams in an antique regency dress in my collection.

Over time I have been collecting links to Regency-era garments made from Saris and Shawls. There are many images of shawl gowns in my Pinterest folder.

Dress made from a woollen paisley shawl

• Gown made of cotton sari http://www.manchestergalleries.org/the-collections/search-the-colle...
• Gown made of silk sari http://www.vam.ac.uk/content/articles/g/gown-made-from-a-shawl/ 
• Fashion Plate http://213.215.47.131/maciet2/map_zoom/prepare_visu.php?im_pos=15&collection_name=M5053MA_214X02X&collection_id=188 
• Silk net gown in the Musée Historique de Tissu de Lyon. http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/reddress.jpg
• Fashion plate 1810 http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/co...
• Shawl dress http://content.lib.washington.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/co...
• http://ccdl.libraries.claremont.edu/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=%...
• Fashion Plate 1801 http://dbase1.lapl.org/images/casey/full/01/rbc0068.jpg
• Tunic1806 http://dbase1.lapl.org/images/casey/full/01/rbc0179.jpg
• 1809  http://dbase1.lapl.org/images/casey/full/01/rbc0262.jpg
• 1810 http://dbase1.lapl.org/images/casey/full/01/rbc0282.jpg
• Dawn's images http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v320/DLuckham/Regency%20Dresses/r...
• Suzi's images http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y260/Sistersuzi/1806ParisianSummer...
• Coat http://www.costumes.org/history/regency/ackerman1809to1828/promenademerino.jpg
• Overdress http://picasaweb.google.com/101938061106280749419/PrideAndPrejudiceResearch#5381911946177924210 
• V&A dress http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O13827/jacket/
• V&A dress http://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O74453/dress/
• Percalee Importee http://s269.beta.photobucket.com/user/DawnLuck/media/Fashion%20Plates/sari1.jpg.html
• 1810 http://s269.beta.photobucket.com/user/DawnLuck/media/Fashion%20Plates/sari2.jpg.html 

Apologies if any links are broken - if you find any broken links or have any further links to share please use the comments box below.

1820s silk dress from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

I have long admired this dress at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and was so pleased when I went reading costumers' blogs this afternoon to discover that it is being reproduced by Kleidung um 1800. I love this blog, and find so many of the posts so inspirational  - they keep me going, keep me hoping to one day produce garments how Sabine does.

I was so inspired by Sabine's discovery of how to make the fans that I wanted to try for myself. Thank you Sabine, for saving me hours of thinking, plotting and constructing.

Following the instructions Sabine shared with us on her blog, this is what I've managed to make tonight. I have had a roll of pink/blue silk in the attic for many years - its about time it saw some light.

Regency fashion exhibition in Germany

Sabine from Kleidung um 1800 shared with us a wonderful video of a Regency-era fashion exhibition in Germany. I've taken a few screenshots during the video of some interesting garment features that I'd love to incorporate one day in my sewing.

On the planning board... some regency gowns and spencers

A few new garments have been added to my planning board - to be completed for JAFA (Jane Austen Festival Australia) next April. Not all of these will be made, but these images in combination will help make up two wardrobes.

Regency Over-Gown in the Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery

Celebrating the Fiber Arts: The Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery in Historic Deerfield, MA., United States. 

Flynt Center of Early New England Life - Helen Geier Flynt Textile Gallery

http://www.historic-deerfield.org/files/hd/docs/visitor-map.pdf

This is a fine collection of early American textiles and costumes. The exhibition is permanent but changing, so I took the opportunity to photograph the collection on show as closely as possible when I stopped by two days ago.

Below is an over-gown from Townsend, Massachusetts area.
Plain weave white muslin with tambour embroidery; plain weave linen.
c.1800
2008.4.1, Museum Collections Fund